Interview with Laura Holland, 2016 MES leaver and Junior Doctor

What were your favourite subjects at school?

At school, my favourite subjects were Geography and PE

When you were at school, did you have a clear idea of what you wanted to do when you left?

From S3, I knew I really wanted to study Medicine and become a doctor. What helped make the difference was studying human biology in the Intermediate 2 course in S3. I really enjoyed the learning, and it built naturally on my younger self who wanted to teach PE.

Did any of your teachers help to shape or inspire your plans?

All my teachers at MES were very supportive. They fostered an environment which motivated me to work hard & study effectively. Mr Gray – Headteacher at the time – was a powerful, motivational speaker. I always remembered that one assembly when he said, “don’t just remember what you did wrong in an exam, and not what you did well”. I still use that advice today.

What have you liked most about your career so far?

Medicine is a very broad and varied career. Thankfully there are a lot of opportunities to take part in surgeries and clinics for different specialities. My days are varied, with no two patients turning up with the exact same presentation. The highlight of my career so far is when I was working in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. I was the emergency gynaecology junior on for the week and my role typically involved ward based jobs such as clerking, bloods and discharges. However, it was a particularly busy day and my registrar was swamped in clinic. Therefore, the consultant informed me that I would be joining her in theatre. It was initially meant to be a keyhole operation, albeit an emergency procedure. Part way through the procedure we realised the patient had a far more complicated condition than previously anticipated. The consultant handed me the scalpel, and asked me to open the abdomen, fully. I had never done this previously! The consultant guided me through all the steps. It was very rewarding, and I felt I learnt a lot during the procedure, and we were able to treat the patient in real-time for what could have had many complications if left untreated.

Which area of medicine do you work in and what inspired you to go into that area?

Having graduated in 2022, I am currently in my second full year of being a Junior Doctor. As a Junior Doctor you rotate around 6 different departments over two years. I have worked in General Medicine, Cardiology, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and I am currently working in General Practice. I have one rotation left in April, Trauma & Orthopaedics. When I left medical school, you were ranked against every other graduate that year applying to work. At the time the ranking system was based on your medical school grades, a situational judgement test, extra degrees and publications. Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to get my 1^st choice rotations. I chose the above jobs to give me an even mix of surgery and medicine. They are all broad jobs which have common presentations seen in General Practice (GP), which is the final career path I want to pursue. I like the variety of patient presentations, and the patient engagement you have in general practice.

What advice would you give to current pupils when thinking about their future?

Pick something you are passionate about, that you want to do for a career! There are so many career options and pathways that will help you reach your end goal, but the fastest route to a goal may not always be the best option for you.  When planning university make sure you like the city as well as the course, liking what’s on offer in your university city/town will contribute to positive mental health, life satisfaction and enjoyment. In addition, for those students who are about to move to university, I would say to register with a GP. It’s very important to look after both your physical and mental health whilst at university.

What do you like most about your job?

On the whole, people are genuinely grateful for the care they receive in the NHS. I enjoy building rapport with patients and trying to figure out the correct diagnosis. It is really satisfying following a patient throughout their treatment and watching them get better.

What has been the most challenging part of your career so far?

Harrowing situations are sadly, inevitable, and there are sometimes when a patient will not get better. The most challenging part of my career is having to tell relatives that their family member is not going to get any better. No amount of simulations can prepare you for the first time you break bad news to a relative. I find it hard sometimes to separate my own feelings. We enter medicine to help people get better and sometimes people don’t get better. The worst part is always telling relatives. I always leave the conversation feeling sad for both the relatives and the patient.

Tell us your favourite memory of your time at school?

I have a lot of fond memories from my time at school, however my favourite memory would have to be my last hockey match. I always enjoyed sports at MES. I was fortunate enough to have been games captain, vice swim captain and the 5XI hockey captain. It was our last game of the season against George Watsons college. It was a tight game, and in the second half I scored the goal that would secure victory. It was an amazing way to finish off my sporting time at MES.